2015 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report – Transforming Governance
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme
2015 :: 132 pages
ISBN: 978-92-95045-80-4
Abstract
The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015 is the first global review of the power of volunteer voices to help improve the way people are governed. Drawing on evidence from countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Lebanon and Bangladesh, the UN report shows how ordinary people are volunteering their time, energies and skills to improve the way they are governed and engaged at local, national and global levels. Better governance at every level is a pre-requisite for the success of the new set of targets for future international development, the Sustainable Development Goals, which are due to be agreed at the United Nations in September 2015.

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Press Release
Volunteers vital to success of new global development agenda, UN report says
05 June 2015
New York, USA: Volunteers are playing a vital role in making governments worldwide more accountable and responsive to their citizens, but their potential is seriously under-valued, a new report from the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme said today.

The State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015 is the first global survey of the contribution of volunteers to better governance, a prerequisite for the success of the new Sustainable Development Goals to be agreed at the United Nations in September.

Drawing on evidence from countries as diverse as Brazil, Kenya, Lebanon and Bangladesh, the UN report, entitled “Transforming Governance”, shows how ordinary people are volunteering their time, energies and skills to improve the way they are governed at local, national and global levels.

Volunteers are working with governments and civil society to hold those in power to account, to influence policies and laws and to represent the voices of those who are often left out of development decisions. The end result, the report says, is more inclusive – and ultimately more effective – development.

“By creating environments for people to volunteer their time, it is possible to use their skills and knowledge for the common good in the sphere of governance,” said Richard Dictus, Executive Coordinator of UNV. “Change will occur with greater civic engagement broadening the number of people who have voice, who can participate and who can hold governance actors to account.”

More than 1 billion people volunteer globally, the majority of them working in their own countries. Many are in the forefront of efforts to improve the way they and their fellow citizens are governed.

Recommended steps include:
:: Engaging more volunteers in the process of crafting policies and putting them into action;
:: Integrating volunteers formally into national development frameworks and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) strategies;
:: Engaging more volunteer women and marginalized groups in local and national decision-making.

The aim of the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2015, UNV says, is to spark a global conversation about the role of volunteers in the area of governance that is so critical to future development success.